Zoom lens

Abstract

A zoom lens comprises a first lens unit G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit G3 having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit G4 having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens unit G5, and a sixth lens unit G6 having a positive refractive power. Zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end is carried out by changing a distance between the lens units, and a distance between the first lens unit G1 and the third lens unit G3 narrows at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, and the first lens unit G1 is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and lens units from the second lens unit G2 to the fifth lens unit G5 move.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2013-020376 filed on Feb. 5, 2013, 2013-020377 filed on Feb. 5, 2013, and 2013-020378 filed on Feb. 5, 2013; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a zoom lens.

2. Description of the Related Art

As a large-aperture telephoto zoom lens of F2.8 class, a zoom lens shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2007-212830 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-191336 has hitherto been proposed.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2007-212830, a four-unit zoom lens with a refractive power of lens units in order of a positive refractive power, a negative refractive power, a positive refractive power, and a positive refractive power from an object side has been disclosed. In such type of zoom lens, zooming is carried out by a movement of a second lens unit having a negative refractive power and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. Moreover, the first lens unit having a positive refractive power is divided into a front-unit and a rear-unit, and focusing is carried out by a movement of the front-unit. According to such an arrangement, the zoom lens is a telephoto zoom lens with an interchangeable lens application of a class of zooming ratio of three times.

In Japanese Patent application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-191336, a five-unit zoom lens with a refractive power of lens units in order of a positive refractive power, a negative refractive power, a positive refractive power, a negative refractive power, and a positive refractive power in order from the object side has been disclosed. In such type of zoom lens, zooming is carried out by movement of the second lens unit having a negative refractive power, the third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and the fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power. Moreover, focusing is carried out by movement of the third lens unit having a positive refractive power. According to such an arrangement, the zoom lens is a telephoto zoom lens with an interchangeable lens application of the class of zooming ratio of three times.

However, in recent years, there has been an increase in a need not only of still photography but also of video photography, and a lens system in which, a video photography function is optimized even in cameras such as an integrated-lens type camera and a digital camera of an interchangeable-lens type, has been sought.

Generally, in video photography, it is necessary to maintain a focused state by moving an auto-focus function all the time. As one of the methods for this, a method of moving a focusing lens unit in the vicinity of a focusing position by a minute amount (called as wobbling) has been known. By carrying out wobbling, a change in a contrast of an image on an image pickup surface is measured, and in a case in which, a judgment is made that the focusing state has changed, the focusing lens is to be moved appropriately once again to refocus. By such wobbling function, even if a distance between the zoom lens and an object changes, the focusing state is maintained continuously all the time, but an extreme high-velocity operation is necessary in accordance with a frame rate of a camera main body. For carrying out an appropriate drive control, the focusing lens unit is sought to be light-weight and with a small amount of movement. Moreover, a reduction in sound which is generated due to wobbling is also sought for reduction in noise at the time of video photography. Although the focusing lens unit and the wobbling lens unit are same normally in most of the cases, sometimes the focusing lens unit and the wobbling unit are arranged as separate lens units.

Moreover, a method of carrying out focusing by detecting a phase difference of an object image on the image pickup surface from a light ray that has passed through different pupil positions, and calculating an object distance, has also been known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A zoom lens according to an aspect of the present invention includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens unit includes a lens, and a sixth lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit widens at a telephoto end than at a wide angle end, and a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit narrows at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, and a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and a distance between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and a distance between the fifth lens unit and the sixth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C are lens cross-sectional views at the time of infinite object point focusing of a zoom lens according to an example 1, where, FIG. 1A is a lens cross-sectional view at a wide angle end, FIG. 1B is a lens cross-sectional view in an intermediate focal length state, and FIG. 1C is a lens cross-sectional view at a telephoto end, and furthermore, FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C are diagrams in which, a direction of displacement of each lens unit for the wide angle end and the intermediate focal length state, and the intermediate focal length state and the telephoto end, and a focusing method at the wide angle end, the intermediate focal length state, and the telephoto end are added;

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C are diagrams of an example 2, similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C;

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C are diagrams of an example 3, similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C;

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C are diagrams of an example 4, similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C;

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C are diagrams of an example 5, similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C;

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C are diagrams of an example 6, similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C;

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C are diagrams of an example 7, similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C;

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D, FIG. 8E, FIG. 8F, FIG. 8G, FIG. 8H, FIG. 8I, FIG. 8J, FIG. 8K, and FIG. 8L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 1;

FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C, FIG. 9D, FIG. 9E, FIG. 9F, FIG. 9G, FIG. 9H, FIG. 9I, FIG. 9J, FIG. 9K, and FIG. 9L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance, where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 1;

FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, FIG. 10D, FIG. 10E, FIG. 10F, FIG. 10G, FIG. 10H, FIG. 10I, FIG. 10J FIG. 10K, and FIG. 10L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 2;

FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, FIG. 11D, FIG. 11E, FIG. 11F, FIG. 11G, FIG. 11H, FIG. 11I, FIG. 11J, FIG. 11K, and FIG. 11L are diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 2;

FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B, FIG. 12C, FIG. 12D, FIG. 12E, FIG. 12F, FIG. 12G, FIG. 12H, FIG. 12I, FIG. 12J, FIG. 12K, and FIG. 12L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 3;

FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B, FIG. 13C, FIG. 13D, FIG. 13E, FIG. 13F, FIG. 13G, FIG. 13H, FIG. 13I, FIG. 13J, FIG. 13K, and FIG. 13L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 3;

FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, FIG. 14D, FIG. 14E, FIG. 14F, FIG. 14G, FIG. 14H, FIG. 14I, FIG. 14J, FIG. 14K, and FIG. 14L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 4;

FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B, FIG. 15C, FIG. 15D, FIG. 15E, FIG. 15F, FIG. 15G, FIG. 15H, FIG. 15I, FIG. 15J, FIG. 15K, and FIG. 15L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance, where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 4;

FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B, FIG. 16C, FIG. 16D, FIG. 16E, FIG. 16F, FIG. 16G, FIG. 16H, FIG. 16I, FIG. 16J, FIG. 16K, and FIG. 16L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 5;

FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B, FIG. 17C, FIG. 17D, FIG. 17E, FIG. 17F, FIG. 17G, FIG. 17H, FIG. 17I, FIG. 17J, FIG. 17K, and FIG. 17L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance, where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 5;

FIG. 18A, FIG. 18B, FIG. 18C, FIG. 18D, FIG. 18E, FIG. 18F, FIG. 18G, FIG. 18H, FIG. 18I, FIG. 18J, FIG. 18K, and FIG. 18L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 6;

FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B, FIG. 19C, FIG. 19D, FIG. 19E, FIG. 19F, FIG. 19G, FIG. 19H, FIG. 19I, FIG. 19J, FIG. 19K, and FIG. 19L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance, where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 6;

FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B, FIG. 20C, FIG. 20D, FIG. 20E, FIG. 20F, FIG. 20G, FIG. 20H, FIG. 20I, FIG. 20J, FIG. 20K, and FIG. 20L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance, of the example 7;

FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, FIG. 21C, FIG. 21D, FIG. 21E, FIG. 21F, FIG. 21G, FIG. 21H, FIG. 21I, FIG. 21J, FIG. 21K, and FIG. 21L are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance, where, a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m, of the example 7;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of an image pickup apparatus in which, a zoom lens of one of the embodiments has been used as an interchangeable lens;

FIG. 23 is a front perspective view showing an appearance of a digital camera of one of the embodiments;

FIG. 24 is a rear perspective view showing an appearance of the digital camera of one of the embodiments;

FIG. 25 is a front perspective view showing an appearance of a digital camera of another embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a rear view showing an appearance of the digital camera of another embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of a digital camera according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a control arrangement of a digital camera of the present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below by referring to the accompanying diagrams. For explaining concretely an action and an effect of the present embodiment, description will be made by showing concrete examples. However, the embodiments to be exemplified, similarly as examples that will be described later, are some of the embodiments included in the present invention, and there is a large number of variations which can be made in the embodiments. Therefore, the embodiments exemplified for the present invention are not restricted to the embodiments described below.

Diagrams from FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C to FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views of zoom lenses along an optical axis according to examples from an example 1 to an example 7. In the diagrams, each of FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A, FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A, FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view at a wide angle end (WE), each of FIG. 1B, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view in an intermediate focal length state (ST), and each of FIG. 1C, FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 5C, FIG. 6C, and FIG. 7C shows a cross-sectional view at a telephoto end (TE).

A zoom lens according to the present embodiment includes in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit G3 having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit G4 having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens unit G5 which includes a lens, and a sixth lens unit G6 having a positive refractive power.

Moreover, a distance between the first lens unit G1 and the second lens unit G2 widens at a telephoto end than at a wide angle end, and a distance between the second lens unit G2 and the third lens unit G3 narrows at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, and a distance between the third lens unit G3 and the fourth lens unit G4 changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and a distance between the fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and a distance between the fifth lens unit G5 and the sixth lens unit G6 changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

In such manner, by disposing the first lens unit having a positive refractive power, the second lens unit having a negative refractive power, the third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and the fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and by changing mutual distances between the lens units, the overall length is shortened and a zooming ratio is secured.

The sixth lens unit G6 has a positive refractive power, and has en effect of separating away an exit pupil from an image plane. Reduction of shading is carried out by oblique incidence characteristics of an image pickup element.

The fifth lens unit G5 is disposed between the fourth lens unit G4 and the sixth lens unit G6, and the fifth lens unit G5 suppresses an aberration fluctuation which is due to zooming.

According to such an arrangement, in an embodiment, a distance between the first lens unit G1 and the third lens unit G3 may be narrowed at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

According to such an arrangement, in the embodiment, the fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 may be moved at the time of the focusing operation.

According to such an arrangement, in the embodiment, the zoom lens may include an aperture stop S which is disposed between the second lens unit G2 and the fourth lens unit G4, and which determines an F-number of the zoom lens, and the following conditional expressions (I) and (II) may be satisfied.
0.2<D36W/φAW<1.5  (I)
1.0<DS6W/φAW<2.8  (II)

where,

D36W denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up to an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end,

DS6W denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end, and

φAW denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the wide angle end.

By disposing the aperture stop at the above-mentioned position, a diameter of the overall zoom lens system is made small, and an aberration is reduced, thereby achieving both of small diameter and aberration reduction.

Conditional expression (I) is an expression which specifies a favorable distance between the third lens unit and the sixth lens unit at the wide angle end.

Conditional expression (II) is an expression which specifies a favorable distance between the aperture stop and the sixth lens unit at the wide angle end.

For suppressing a reduction in an amount of light around the image pickup surface while making an aperture of the zoom lens large, it is necessary to secure sufficiently a diameter of an off-axis light beam. However, when an attempt is made to secure the diameter of the off-axis light beam, it becomes necessary to make large a diameter of a lens separated away from the aperture stop.

In the embodiment, by making so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expressions (I) and (II) respectively, an entrance pupil with respect to the sixth lens unit is brought closer to the sixth lens unit, thereby achieving both of small-sizing and securing brightness around the image pickup surface at the wide angle end.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expressions (I) and (II) respectively, a space for disposing the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit, and a variable spacing distance are secured sufficiently.

In the embodiment, the following conditional expressions (III) and (IV) may be satisfied.
0.6<D36T/φAT<2.3  (III)
1.4<DS6T/φAT<3.5  (IV)

where,

D36T denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end,

DS6T denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end, and

φAT denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the telephoto end.

Conditional expression (III) is an expression which specifies a favorable distance between the third lens unit and the sixth lens unit at the telephoto end.

Conditional expression (IV) is an expression which specifies a favorable distance between the aperture stop and the sixth lens unit at the telephoto end.

In the embodiment, by making so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expressions (III) and (IV) respectively, the entrance pupil with respect to the sixth lens unit is brought closer to the sixth lens unit, thereby achieving both of small-sizing and securing brightness around the image pickup surface at the telephoto end.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expressions (III) and (IV) respectively, the space for disposing the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit, and a variable-spacing distance are secured sufficiently.

In the embodiment, the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit may be moved at the time of focusing operation.

The fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit are lens units for which, it is easy to make a radial direction small. Since the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit are let to be focusing lens units, a drive load (such as electric power load) at the time of focusing is reduced. Since a plurality of lens units is let to be lens units that move at the time of focusing, it has become possible to reduce aberration at the time of focusing both at a long distance and at a close distance, as well as to shorten the closest focusing distance.

Here, the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit may be moved at the time of focusing, and the following conditional expression (A) may be satisfied.
−0.8<f4/f5<1.2  (A)

where,

f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens unit, and

f5 denotes a focal length of the fifth lens unit.

Conditional expression (A) is an expression in which, a favorable balance of refractive power of the fourth lens unit and refractive power of the fifth lens unit which move at the time of focusing operation is specified.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit, and so as not to exceed an upper limit, the fifth lens unit is let not to have a large positive refractive power or a large negative refractive power. In the embodiment, the focusing is carried out mainly by the movement of the fourth lens unit, and by making auxiliary movement of the fifth lens unit, the aberration fluctuation due to focusing is reduced, and the closest focusing distance is shortened.

By suppressing an absolute value of the refractive power of the fifth lens unit, even when the fifth lens unit is decentered, it is possible to reduce an effect on the aberration, and it is advantageous for securing an optical performance.

The fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit may satisfy the following conditional expressions (B) and (C).
−0.7<f4/fw<−0.3  (B)
1.0<|f5|/fw<5.0  (C)

where,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expression (B), the negative refractive power of the fourth lens unit is secured, and an amount of movement of the fourth lens unit at the time of focusing is made small, which is advantageous for making the zoom lens compact.

By suppressing the negative refractive power of the fourth lens unit so as not exceed an upper limit, it is advantageous for making the fourth lens unit light-weight.

By suppressing the absolute value of the refractive power of the fifth lens unit G5 so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expression (C), it is advantageous for making the fifth lens unit light-weight.

By securing the absolute value of the refractive power of the fifth lens unit so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expression (C), it is advantageous for correction of a longitudinal aberration caused due to focusing.

Moreover, in the embodiment, a distance between the first lens unit G1 and the third lens unit G3 may narrow at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

By the distance between the first lens unit and the third lens unit becoming small at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, a position of the entrance pupil is not let to be excessively far from the first lens unit, at the telephoto end. Therefore, it is possible to secure a diameter of the entrance pupil at the telephoto end while making an effective diameter of the first lens unit small.

Moreover, in the embodiment, a position of the first lens unit G1 may be stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

This is advantageous for reducing dust that enters into the lens system, suppressing sound leakage when a lens unit moves, and reducing a fluctuation in a balance of weight resulting from zooming of the lens system.

The fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 may move at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. This is advantageous for achieving both of reducing an aberration and securing the zooming ratio.

Furthermore, the second lens unit G2 and the third lens unit G3 may move at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

Zooming in which, the aberration is suppressed may be carried out by moving the second lens unit, the third lens unit, the fourth lens unit, and the fifth lens unit at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

Regarding the movement of the third lens unit G3, the third lens unit G3 may satisfy the following conditional expression (1).
0.2<ΔG3/f3<1  (1)

where,

ΔG3 denotes an amount of displacement of the third lens unit, at a position at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end, where the displacement to an object side is plus, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

By making so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expression (1), an amount of movement of the third lens unit is suppressed, and an increase in the overall length of the lens is suppressed. Moreover, this leads to suppressing of the refractive power of the third lens unit, aberration reduction, and reduction of the number of lenses.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit, a size in a radial direction of the first lens unit is made small.

The zoom lens may include an aperture stop S which is disposed between the second lens unit G2 and the fourth lens unit G4, and which moves toward the object side at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end. More concretely, the aperture stop S may be disposed between the second lens unit G2 and the third lens unit G3.

By such an arrangement, both small sizing of the overall zoom lens system and aberration reduction are achieved.

The aperture stop S may let to have an aperture size large when the F-number is the minimum, at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

Accordingly, a difference in the amount of light at an image-plane center and in the vicinity of the image-plane due to vignetting near the wide angle end is suppressed, and both an improvement in image quality and making the diameter small are achieved.

The fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 may be moved at the time of the focusing operation.

The fourth lens unit is a lens unit of which, a size in the radial direction can be made small. Moreover, the fifth lens unit is a lens unit which is easy to make light-weight. By letting the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit to be the focusing lens units, the drive load (such as electric power load) at the time of focusing is reduced. Here, since the plurality of lens units is let to be lens units which move at the time of focusing, it has become possible to reduce aberration at the time of focusing both at a long distance and at a close distance, as well as to shorten the closest focusing distance.

In examples from an example 1 to an example 5, and an example 7 in which, the fifth lens unit G5 has a negative refractive power, a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the wide angle end and a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the telephoto end differ for the fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5.

According to such an arrangement, the aberration is suppressed in both cases namely, when focusing at infinity and when focusing at a close distance.

In zoom lenses of the examples from the example 1 to example 5, and example 7, the fifth lens unit G5 has a negative refractive power.

In a zoom lens of an example 6, the fifth lens unit G5 has a positive refractive power.

In each case, by changing an air space before and after the fourth lens unit, zooming ratio is secured and aberration is reduced, thereby achieving both effects.

A position of the sixth lens unit G6 may be let to be stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

According to such an arrangement, dust entering into the zoom lens system is reduced, and sound leakage when a lens is driven is reduced

A surface on the object side of a lens nearest to the object side in the first lens unit G1 may be a convex surface directed toward the object side. Moreover, a lens nearest to the image side in the first lens unit G1 may be a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side.

The second lens unit G2 may include in order from the object side to the image side, a cemented triplet of a positive lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens.

Here, the lens component is a lens block having only two refracting surfaces namely, an object-side surface and an image-side surface, which are in contact with air in an optical path.

Such an arrangement makes it easy to suppress an occurrence of a distortion and an astigmatism at the wide angle end, a spherical aberration and a coma at the telephoto end, and a chromatic aberration of magnification, and a zooming function of the second lens unit is secured sufficiently.

The cemented triplet may include a biconvex positive lens, a biconcave negative lens, and a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side. Moreover, the second lens unit G2 may include the cemented triplet, and a biconcave negative lens.

Particularly, the negative lens in the cemented triplet may satisfy the following conditional expression (2).
1<(r21−r22)/(r21+r22)<5  (2)

where,

r21 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet, and

r22 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet.

In the embodiment, an arrangement is let to be such that by satisfying conditional expression (2) it is even easier to carry out reduction of aberration.

A size in the radial direction of the third lens unit G3 which receives an axial light beam diverged from the second lens unit G2 is susceptible to become large. In a case of a fast zoom lens as in the embodiment, a diameter of the axial light beam becomes particularly large in the third lens unit G3. The third lens unit G3 includes a negative lens and a plurality of positive lenses, and carries out correction of the spherical aberration which occurs at a telephoto side.

Furthermore, the following conditional expressions (3) and (4) may be satisfied.
75<νd3p<100  (3)
1.4<f31p/f3<3.7  (4)

where,

νd3p denotes the maximum value of Abbe's number with reference to a d-line for all the positive lenses in the third lens unit,

f31p denotes a focal length of the positive lens nearest to the object side in the third lens unit, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

In the zoom lens of the embodiment, since a fast F-number is maintained even at the telephoto end, correction of a chromatic aberration becomes extremely important. Particularly, by correcting the longitudinal chromatic aberration at the telephoto side favorably, the performance is improved.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expression (3), correction of the longitudinal chromatic aberration is carried out.

By making so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expression (3), a material cost is reduced.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expression (4), the refractive power of the positive lens is suppressed to be appropriate, and the aberration is suppressed. By making so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expression (4), a converging effect of the positive lens nearest to the object side is secured sufficiently, and small-sizing of the subsequent lens is facilitated.

Moreover, the lens nearest to the object side in the third lens unit G3 may be a positive lens, and a negative lens may be disposed on the image side of the positive lens, and a positive lens may be disposed on the image side of the negative lens. More concretely, the third lens unit G3 may include in order from the object side five lenses namely, a positive lens, a positive lens, a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens.

Such an arrangement is advantageous for small-sizing in the radial direction of the third lens unit, and for reduction of aberration such as the spherical aberration, the coma, and the astigmatism.

Moreover, an object-side surface of the lens nearest to the object side in the third lens unit G3 may be a convex surface directed toward the object side. Furthermore, an object-side surface of a lens nearest to the image side may be a convex surface directed toward the object side.

The fourth lens unit G4 may comprise one negative lens, and may be let to be light-weight. Since the fourth lens unit G4 is let to be a focusing lens unit in the embodiment, a load on a focusing drive mechanism is reduced. The fourth lens unit may include only a biconcave negative lens.

The fourth lens unit G4 may be let to be a wobbling lens unit. The wobbling lens unit may be let to be light-weight at the same time.

The fourth lens unit G4 may satisfy the following conditional expression (5).
0.6<(r41−r42)/(r41+r42)<2  (5)

where,

r41 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit, and

r42 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit.

By the fourth lens unit satisfying conditional expression (5), the spherical aberration at the telephoto end is reduced. A fluctuation in the spherical aberration of the fourth lens unit due to focusing is also suppressed.

The fifth lens unit G5 may comprise one lens, and the fifth lens unit G5 may be made light-weight. Since the fifth lens unit is let to be the focusing lens unit in the embodiment, a load on the focusing drive mechanism is reduced. Moreover, the fifth lens unit may include only a lens having a concave surface as an image-side surface, directed toward the image side.

The fifth lens unit G5 may satisfy the following conditional expression (6).
−1<(r51−r52)/(r51+r52)<4  (6)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

Accordingly, the distortion at the wide angle end and the chromatic aberration of magnification at the telephoto end are reduced.

In the zoom lenses of examples from the example 1 to the example 5, and the example 7, the fifth lens unit G5 includes one negative lens.

Moreover, the following conditional expression (6-1) may be satisfied.
0<(r51−r52)/(r51+r52)<4  (6-1)

Accordingly, the distortion at the wide angle end and the chromatic aberration of magnification at the telephoto end are reduced.

In the example 6, the fifth lens unit G5 includes one positive lens.

Moreover, the following conditional expression (6-2) may be satisfied.
−1<(r51−r52)/(r51+r52)<0  (6-2)

Accordingly, the distortion at the wide angle end and the chromatic aberration at the telephoto end are reduced.

At the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state, at the telephoto end, the fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 move satisfying the following conditional expression (7).
0.2<|ΔG5(T)/ΔG4(T)|<2  (7)

where,

ΔG4(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end, and

ΔG5(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fifth lens unit at the telephoto end.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit, an amount of movement of the fifth lens unit is secured, and an effect of aberration correction is secured sufficiently.

By making so as not to exceed an upper limit, the amount of movement of the fifth lens unit is suppressed to be appropriate, and the chromatic aberration of magnification at the telephoto end is reduced.

The following conditional expressions (8) and (9) may be satisfied.
3.2<ft/fw<6  (8)
1.4<FNO(T)<3.2  (9)

where,

ft denotes a focal length at the telephoto end of the zoom lens,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens, and

FNO (T) denotes an F-number at the telephoto end for the zoom lens.

By letting the zooming ratio to be so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expression (8), an angle of view is made to be easily changeable, and by making so as not to exceed an upper limit of conditional expression (8), small-sizing of the zoom lens is made easier.

By making so as not to fall below a lower limit of conditional expression (9), a diameter of the lens in the radial direction is made to be small, and by making so as not to exceed an upper limit, brightness at the telephoto end is secured.

The sixth lens unit G6 may include one positive lens. Concretely, the sixth lens unit G6 may include a biconvex positive lens.

The examples will be described later. It is possible to use as an image pickup apparatus which includes one of the abovementioned zoom lenses, and an image pickup element disposed on the image side thereof, which has an image pickup surface that picks up an image formed by the zoom lens, and which converts the image picked up, to an electric signal.

It is more preferable that a plurality of above-mentioned arrangements and conditional expressions are satisfied simultaneously.

Moreover, in a case in which, the zoom lens includes a focusing mechanism, each of the abovementioned arrangements and conditional expressions are to be let to be in a state of the zoom lens focusing at the longest distance.

When an upper limit value and a lower limit value of each of the abovementioned conditional expressions are changed as follow, it is possible to have more assured effect.

For conditional expression (I), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 0.3, and 0.4 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (I), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 1.2, and 1.1 is even more preferable, and 1.0 is all the more preferable.

For conditional expression (II), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 1.2, and 1.4 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (II), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 2.6, and 2.4 is even more preferable.

For conditional expression (III), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 0.7, and 0.8 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (III), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 1.6, and 1.5 is even more preferable, and 1.4 is all the more preferable.

For conditional expression (IV), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 1.6, and 1.8 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (IV), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 3.0, and 2.8 is even more preferable, and 2.6 is all the more preferable.

For conditional expression (A), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be −0.5, and −0.3 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (A), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 0.9, and 0.7 is even more preferable.

For conditional expression (B), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be −0.6. Moreover, for conditional expression (B), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be −0.4.

For conditional expression (C), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 1.3. Moreover, for conditional expression (C), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 4.0.

For conditional expression (1), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 0.3, and 0.35 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (1), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 0.65, and 0.61 is even more preferable.

For conditional expression (2), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 2, and 2.5 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (2), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 4.5, and 4 is even more preferable.

For conditional expression (3), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 80. Moreover, for conditional expression (3), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 96.

For conditional expression (4), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 1.8. Moreover, for conditional expression (4), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 2.7.

For conditional expression (5), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 1, and 1.1 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (5), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 1.8, and 1.6 is even more preferable.

For conditional expression (6-1), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 0.2. Moreover, for conditional expression (6-1), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 3.

For conditional expression (6-2), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be −0.5. Moreover, for conditional expression (6-2), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to −0.1.

For conditional expression (7), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 0.4, and 0.45 is even more preferable. Moreover, for conditional expression (7), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 1.6, and 1.5 is even more preferable.

For conditional expression (8), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 3.4. Moreover, for conditional expression (8), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 5.

For conditional expression (9), it is more preferable to let the lower limit value to be 2.0. Moreover, for conditional expression (9), it is more preferable to let the upper limit value to be 30.

In each of the abovementioned conditional expressions, by restricting either of the upper limit value and the lower limit value or both, that function can be realized more assuredly, and therefore it is favorable. Moreover, for each conditional expression, only the upper limit value or the lower limit value of a further limited numerical range of the conditional expression may be restricted. While restricting the numerical range of the conditional expression, the upper limit value or the lower limit of each conditional expression may be let to be the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the other conditional expression.

The zoom lenses of examples from the example 1 to the example 7 will be described below. However, the present invention is not restricted to the examples described below. The positive polarity or the negative polarity is based on the paraxial radius of curvature.

The zoom lens in any of the examples from the example 1 to the example 7 includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit G3 having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit G4 having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens unit G5 including a lens, and a sixth lens unit G6 having a positive refractive power. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit is fixed, the second lens unit moves only toward the image side, the third lens unit moves only toward the object side, the fourth lens unit moves only toward the object side, the fifth lens unit makes a reciprocating movement along an optical axis, and the sixth lens unit is fixed with respect to an image plane.

An aperture stop S is disposed immediately before the object side of the third lens unit G3, and moves integrally with the third lens unit.

The maximum diameter of an aperture of the aperture stop S increases from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and is arranged such that an F-number is almost a constant value (2.88) irrespective of a focal length in a state of being focused at infinity.

On the image side of the zoom lens, filters, a flat parallel plate C, which is a member optically equivalent to a cover glass of an image pickup element, and an image pickup surface I of the image pickup element, are positioned.

The fifth lens unit G5 of the examples from the example 1 to the example 5, and the example 7 has a negative refractive power, and at the time of zooming form the wide angle end to the telephoto end, moves toward the image side after moving toward the object side first. At the time of focusing from a long distance to a close distance, the fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 move toward the image side independently, at the wide angle end. The fourth lens unit G4 moves toward the image side and the fifth lens unit G5 moves toward the object side, at the telephoto end. The fourth lens unit G4 also carries out a wobbling operation.

The fifth lens unit G5 of the example 6 has a positive refractive power, and moves toward the object side after moving toward the image side first, at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. At the time of focusing from a long distance to a close distance, the fourth lens unit G4 and the fifth lens unit G5 move independently toward the image side, from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. The fourth lens unit G4 also carries out the wobbling operation.

Each example is a telephoto zoom lens with a large aperture and an improved performance, which is optimum for an application as an interchangeable lens system.

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 1.

The first lens unit G1 includes four lenses namely, a positive lens L11, a positive lens L12, a negative lens L13, and a positive lens L14.

The second lens unit G2 includes four lenses namely, a cemented triplet consisting of a positive lens L21, a negative lens L22, and a positive lens L23, and a negative lens L24.

The third lens unit G3 includes five lenses namely, a positive lens L31 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces, a positive lens L32, a negative lens L33, a positive lens L34, and a positive lens L35 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces.

The fourth lens unit G4 includes one negative lens L41 of which, an image-side surface is an aspheric surface.

The fifth lens unit G5 includes one negative lens L51.

The sixth lens unit G6 includes one positive lens L61. FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 2.

The first lens unit G1, the second lens unit G2, and the sixth lens unit G6 are same as in the example 1.

The third lens unit G3 includes five lenses namely, a positive lens L31, a positive lens L32, a negative lens L33, a positive lens L34, and a positive lens L35 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces.

The fourth lens unit G4 includes one negative lens L41 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces.

The fifth lens unit G5 includes one negative lens L51 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 3.

For the second lens unit G2 and the sixth lens unit G6, description is same as in the example 1, and for the third lens unit G3, the fourth lens unit G4, and the fifth lens unit G5, description is same as in the example 2.

The first lens unit G1 includes three lenses namely, a positive lens L11, a negative lens L12, and a positive lens L13.

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 4.

For the second lens unit G2, the fifth lens unit G5, and the sixth lens unit G6, description is same as in the example 1, for the fourth lens unit G4, description is same as in the example 2, and for the first lens unit G1, description is same as in the example 3.

The third lens unit G3 includes five lenses namely, a positive lens L31, a cemented negative lens component consisting of a positive lens L32 and a negative lens L33, a positive lens L34, and a positive lens L35 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces.

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 5.

For the second lens unit G2, the fourth lens unit G4, and the sixth lens unit G6, description is same as in the example 1, for the fifth lens unit G5, description is same as in the example 2, and for the third lens unit G3, description is same as in the example 4.

The first lens unit G1 includes three lenses namely, a cemented lens component consisting of a negative lens L11 and a positive lens L12, and a positive lens L13.

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 6.

For the second lens unit G2 and the fourth lens unit G4, description is same as in the example 1, and for the third lens unit G3, description is same as in the example 2.

The first lens unit G1 includes three lenses namely, a negative lens L11, a positive lens L12, and a positive lens L13.

The fifth lens unit G5 includes one positive lens L51.

The sixth lens unit G6 includes one positive lens L61 of which, an image-side surface is an aspheric surface.

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views of the zoom lens of the example 7.

For the second lens unit G2 and the fifth lens unit G5, description is same as in the example 1, for the fourth lens unit G4, description is same as in the example 2, for the first lens unit G1, description is same as in the example 3, and for the sixth lens unit G6, description is same as in the example 5.

The third lens unit G3 includes five lenses namely, a positive lens L31, a three cemented lens negative component consisting of a positive lens L32, a negative lens L33, and a positive lens L34, and a positive lens L35 of which, both surfaces are aspheric surfaces.

In each example, since the first lens unit G1 and the sixth lens unit G6 are let to be fixed with respect to the image plane, it is possible to simplify a lens-barrel structure. Moreover, a change in the center of gravity at the time of zooming from the wide angle end (WE) to the telephoto end (TE), and stable retention is possible. Furthermore, it is advantageous for reduction of sound which is generated at the time of zooming from the wide angle end (WE) to the telephoto end (TE), and at the time of focusing.

Various types of numerical data of the examples from the example 1 to the example 7, is shown below.

In surface data, a radius of curvature r of each lens surface (optical surface) for each surface number, a surface separation d, a refractive index nd with respect to a d-line (587.6 nm) of each lens (optical medium), and Abbe's number νd for d-line for each lens (optical medium) are shown. Unit of both the radius of curvature r and the surface separation d is millimeter (mm). In the surface data, ‘∞’ mentioned in the radius of curvature indicates that it is infinite.

A surface marked with * mark to the surface number is an aspheric surface. In aspheric surface coefficient, data related to a lens surface which is let to have an aspheric shape, in the surface data is indicated. The aspherical-surface coefficient is indicated by the following expression when x is let to be an optical axis with a direction of traveling of light as a positive direction, and y is let to be in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
z=(y²/r)/[1+{1−(K+1)·(y/r)²}^1/2]+A4y⁴+A6y⁶+A8y⁸+A10y¹⁰

where, r denotes a paraxial radius of curvature, K denotes a conical coefficient, A4, A6, A8, and A10 denote aspherical-surface coefficients of a fourth order, a sixth order, an eighth order, and a tenth order. A symbol ‘E’ indicates that a numerical value that follows is to be a power of 10. This means that ‘1.0E-5’ for example, is ‘1.0×10⁻⁵’.

In zoom data, a focal length, an F-number (Fno), a maximum value (φ) of a diameter of an aperture stop having a circular shape, an angle of view 2ω(°), a variable surface separation D, an air-converted back focus (BF), overall length of lens, and an image height are indicated. Unit of each of the abovementioned items except the F-number and the angle of view in the zoom data is millimeter (mm). Also, Stop denotes an aperture stop.

Moreover, WE denotes a wide angle end, ST denotes an intermediate focal length state, and TE denotes a telephoto end.

In data of focal length of each lens unit, focal lengths f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, and f6 (hereinafter, ‘focal lengths f1 to f6 ’) in each lens unit are indicated. Unit of focal length is millimeter (mm).

EXAMPLE 1

Surface data
	Surface no.	r	d	nd	νd
	1	161.8625	4.385	1.48749	70.23
	2	−939.1645	0.150
	3	73.7720	5.204	1.49700	81.54
	4	252.3629	0.150
	5	76.4145	2.500	1.80000	29.84
	6	47.9471	1.555
	7	49.2297	6.796	1.49700	81.54
	8	315.6860	D8
			(Variable)
	9	208.6397	5.191	1.91082	35.25
	10	−42.8331	1.600	1.69700	48.52
	11	25.0886	2.709	1.92286	18.90
	12	32.7854	4.591
	13	−36.2846	1.500	1.83481	42.71
	14	135.2384	D14
			(Variable)
	15 (Stop)	∞	1.250
	16*	29.9169	4.096	1.74320	49.29
	17*	−9370.4409	3.777
	18	39.8922	5.573	1.43875	94.93
	19	−32.6290	0.150
	20	84.7715	1.400	1.90366	31.32
	21	18.6481	3.264
	22	48.7115	3.498	1.49700	81.54
	23	−63.3717	0.150
	24*	24.4196	3.565	1.58313	59.38
	25*	536.4898	D25
			(Variable)
	26	−128.6809	1.200	1.74320	49.29
	27*	16.0684	D27
			(Variable)
	28	−137.3219	1.200	1.48749	70.23
	29	63.8881	D29
			(Variable)
	30	56.6262	4.565	1.76200	40.10
	31	−41.8597	25.763
	32	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
	33	∞	0.800
	Image plane	∞
	(Image pickup
	surface)
Aspherical surface data
	16th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 9.1265E−06, A6 = 4.0231E−08, A8 = 1.1599E−10,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	17th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 3.2233E−05, A6 = 5.2116E−08, A8 = 1.5473E−10,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	24th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 6.4394E−06, A6 = 1.5321E−08, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	25th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = −1.0054E−05, A6 = −3.1844E−09, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	27th surface
	K = −0.8643
	A4 = 8.3394E−06, A6 = −5.1963E−09, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
	Focal length	40.80	77.50	147.00
	Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
	φ	20.64	21.21	22.80
	Angle of field (2ω)	29.55°	15.53°	8.24°
	IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
	BF	29.20	29.20	29.20	in air
	Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
	D8	1.000	17.531	30.023
	D14	39.858	19.827	1.716
	D25	2.500	3.760	2.667
	D27	6.127	6.403	16.258
	D29	3.179	5.143	2.000
Unit separation (a distance between an object and
an image is 0.7 m)
	D0	546.080	546.080	546.080
	D8	1.000	17.531	30.023
	D14	39.858	19.827	1.716
	D25	3.072	5.863	9.475
	D27	6.734	3.868	3.321
	D29	2.000	5.575	8.129
Unit focal length
	f1	92.809
	f2	−26.387
	f3	23.823
	f4	−19.153
	f5	−89.268
	f6	32.231

EXAMPLE 2

Surface data
	Surface no.	r	d	nd	νd
	1	224.1379	4.079	1.48749	70.23
	2	−385.1974	0.150
	3	57.8744	5.093	1.49700	81.54
	4	133.2050	0.150
	5	67.9609	2.500	1.90366	31.32
	6	44.2704	1.949
	7	45.7334	6.628	1.49700	81.54
	8	263.9719	D8
			(Variable)
	9	128.2550	5.588	1.91082	35.25
	10	−47.3000	1.600	1.69700	48.52
	11	23.9824	2.664	1.92286	18.90
	12	30.5465	5.390
	13	−36.0447	1.500	1.83481	42.71
	14	119.3580	D14
			(Variable)
	15 (Stop)	∞	1.250
	16	26.4663	3.984	1.77250	49.60
	17	85.0893	2.668
	18	22.5884	5.730	1.43875	94.93
	19	−213.4986	0.538
	20	1058.5517	1.400	1.90366	31.32
	21	23.7500	3.082
	22	18.1277	4.245	1.49700	81.54
	23	43.4126	0.150
	24*	18.1696	3.319	1.58313	59.38
	25*	−1988.2486	D25
			(Variable)
	26*	−178.1930	1.200	1.74320	49.29
	27*	15.3626	D27
			(Variable)
	28*	217.1212	1.200	1.58313	59.38
	29*	37.0521	D29
			(Variable)
	30	43.3556	4.912	1.80610	40.88
	31	−51.7168	25.308
	32	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
	33	∞	0.800
	Image plane	∞
	(Image pickup
	surface)
Aspherical surface data
	24th surface
	K = −0.1539
	A4 = −1.7974E−05, A6 = 9.7260E−08, A8 = −5.2928E−10,
	A10 = 8.7249E−12
	25th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 4.5095E−05, A6 = 3.7225E−08, A8 = 8.2034E−10,
	A10 = 2.7708E−12
	26th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = −1.1341E−05, A6 = −6.1677E−08, A8 = 3.5886E−09,
	A10 = −2.9499E−11
	27th surface
	K = −1.0873
	A4 = 3.0008E−06, A6 = 7.9340E−08, A8 = 8.4760E−10,
	A10 = −1.0821E−11
	28th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 1.2835E−05, A6 = −5.6280E−09, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	29th surface
	K = 1.5494
	A4 = 4.4391E−06, A6 = −1.9963E−08, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
	A10 = 0.0000E+00
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
	Focal length	40.80	77.96	147.00
	Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
	φ	19.96	20.41	22.40
	Angle of field (2ω)	29.53°	15.53°	8.26°
	IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
	BF	28.75	28.75	28.75	in air
	Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
	D8	0.845	17.800	29.252
	D14	40.030	19.950	1.500
	D25	2.006	3.060	2.163
	D27	5.835	6.396	17.752
	D29	3.451	4.961	1.500
Unit separation (a distance between an object and
an image is 0.7 m)
	D0	546.700	546.700	546.700
	D8	0.845	17.800	29.252
	D14	40.030	19.950	1.500
	D25	2.616	5.188	8.818
	D27	5.718	4.865	7.919
	D29	2.958	4.364	4.678
Unit focal length
	f1	94.630
	f2	−26.657
	f3	23.388
	f4	−18.980
	f5	−76.804
	f6	29.948

EXAMPLE 3

Surface data
Surface no.	r	d	nd	νd
1	78.3067	6.287	1.48749	70.23
2	∞	0.150
3	58.3004	2.357	1.80518	25.42
4	41.5439	1.972
5	42.9221	7.667	1.49700	81.54
6	300.3014	D6 (Variable)
7	133.8679	5.450	1.91082	35.25
8	−52.8170	1.600	1.69700	48.52
9	23.0332	2.938	1.92286	18.90
10	29.6919	6.656
11	−36.1478	1.500	1.83481	42.71
12	139.4883	D12 (Variable)
13	∞	1.250
(Stop)
14	25.3033	3.844	1.77250	49.60
15	62.4416	3.670
16	22.6985	5.048	1.43875	94.93
17	−176.8538	0.150
18	318.8681	1.400	1.90366	31.32
19	23.7626	1.958
20	21.4425	3.394	1.49700	81.54
21	54.1793	0.150
22*	17.0527	4.140	1.58313	59.38
23*	−1542.0344	D23 (Variable)
24*	−135.3978	1.200	1.74320	49.29
25*	15.9244	D25 (Variable)
26*	206.7566	1.200	1.58313	59.38
27*	34.7332	D27 (Variable)
28	44.1850	4.638	1.80610	40.88
29	−51.0153	28.038
30	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
31	∞	0.800
Image	∞
plane
(Image
pickup
surface)
Aspherical surface data
	22th surface
	K = 0.1748
	A4 = −1.5676E−05, A6 = 8.9000E−08, A8 = −6.2366E−10, A10 =
	8.8579E−12
	23th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 5.1798E−05, A6 = 9.5847E−08, A8 = 2.9579E−10, A10 =
	5.2940E−12
	24th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = −1.0232E−05, A6 = 2.2180E−07, A8 = −2.2239E−09, A10 =
	9.2648E−12
	25th surface
	K = −1.1692
	A4 = 7.5244E−06, A6 = 3.2729E−07, A8 = −5.0891E−09, A10 =
	3.2451E−11
	26th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 2.1885E−05, A6 = −6.5454E−08, A8 = 0.0000E+00, A10 =
	0.0000E+00
	27th surface
	K = 2.2748
	A4 = 8.2210E−06, A6 = −8.2973E−08, A8 = 0.0000E+00, A10 =
	0.0000E+00
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
	Focal length	40.80	75.66	147.00
	Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
	φ	20.09	20.58	22.40
	Angle of field (2ω)	29.67°	16.05°	8.26°
	IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
	BF	31.48	31.48	31.48	in air
	Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
	D6	1.070	17.004	29.366
	D12	39.214	20.413	1.500
	D23	2.000	2.976	2.000
	D25	5.476	6.525	17.422
	D27	4.028	4.870	1.500
Unit separation (a distance between an object and an image is
0.7 m)
	D0	546.700	546.700	546.700
	D6	1.070	17.004	29.366
	D12	39.214	20.413	1.500
	D23	2.579	4.862	8.283
	D25	5.333	5.334	7.903
	D27	3.592	4.175	4.736
Unit focal length
	f1	92.7530
	f2	−26.2412
	f3	22.7291
	f4	−19.1074
	f5	−71.7747
	f6	30.0259

EXAMPLE 4

Surface data
Surface no.	r	d	nd	νd
1	69.3745	6.700	1.48749	70.23
2	785.6394	0.150
3	48.6755	2.300	1.90366	31.32
4	34.6475	1.860
5	34.8467	9.880	1.43875	94.93
6	1099.2010	D6 (Variable)
7	127.3560	5.350	1.91082	35.25
8	−47.2895	1.600	1.73400	51.47
9	20.9985	3.050	1.92286	20.88
10	29.4558	5.310
11	−37.3953	1.500	1.83400	37.16
12	84.4109	D12 (Variable)
13	∞	1.250
(Stop)
14	24.9309	4.500	1.74400	44.78
15	129.7204	0.150
16	21.1517	4.210	1.43875	94.93
17	58.6483	1.400	1.90366	31.32
18	16.9308	1.230
19	17.1435	4.540	1.49700	81.54
20	96.2764	0.150
21*	22.1865	3.870	1.59201	67.02
22*	−161.5787	D22 (Variable)
23*	−77.5338	1.200	1.72903	54.04
24*	15.3397	D24 (Variable)
25	138.5435	1.200	1.74077	27.79
26	59.4845	D26 (Variable)
27	59.3614	5.140	1.70154	41.24
28	−36.9207	30.495
29	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
30	∞	0.800
Image	∞
plane
(Image
pickup
surface)
Aspherical surface data
21th surface
K = 1.2214
A4 = −3.5419E−05, A6 = −5.2461E−08, A8 = −6.2408E−10, A10 =
6.4572E−12
22th surface
K = 0
A4 = 2.0286E−05, A6 = 5.8252E−08, A8 = −3.9011E−10, A10 =
8.5884E−12
23th surface
K = 0
A4 = −2.7251E−05, A6 = 8.4374E−07, A8 = −1.2333E−08, A10 =
6.9429E−11
24th surface
K = −1.5489
A4 = −1.2515E−06, A6 = 8.8028E−07, A8 = −1.5441E−08, A10 =
1.0150E−10
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
	Focal length	40.80	76.12	147.00
	Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
	φ	20.58	20.91	22.40
	Angle of field(2ω)	29.67°	15.90°	8.27°
	IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
	BF	33.93	33.93	33.93	in air
	Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
	D6	0.800	15.955	26.474
	D12	38.742	21.234	2.214
	D22	2.000	3.098	3.063
	D24	5.824	4.714	18.159
	D26	4.044	6.409	1.500
Unit separation (a distance between an object and an image is
0.7 m)
	D0	546.700	546.700	546.700
	D6	0.800	15.955	26.474
	D12	38.742	21.234	2.214
	D22	2.530	4.909	9.527
	D24	6.391	3.344	5.111
	D26	2.947	5.968	8.084
Unit focal length
	f1	87.7817
	f2	−23.7840
	f3	21.2976
	f4	−17.4707
	f5	−141.6348
	f6	33.1775

EXAMPLE 5

Surface data
Surface no.	r	d	nd	vd
1	101.0042	3.000	2.00069	25.46
2	70.9827	7.100	1.49700	81.54
3	−380.7077	0.150
4	57.8570	6.400	1.49700	81.54
5	430.3072	D5 (Variable)
6	195.2492	4.600	2.00100	29.13
7	−53.3154	1.600	1.70154	41.24
8	25.5454	2.700	1.92286	18.90
9	33.9351	5.370
10	−40.0762	1.500	1.80610	40.92
11	71.8286	D11 (Variable)
12 (Stop)	∞	1.250
13	23.9404	4.940	1.73077	40.50
14	82.8711	0.580
15	23.2683	5.000	1.49700	81.54
16	152.1455	1.400	1.90366	31.32
17	17.4316	1.220
18	17.2959	5.350	1.49700	81.54
19	243.7126	0.150
20*	21.5646	4.000	1.58313	59.38
21*	−441.2009	D21 (Variable)
22	−112.2889	1.200	1.72903	54.04
23*	17.4561	D23 (Variable)
24*	49.0253	1.200	1.63930	44.87
25*	24.3386	D25 (Variable)
26	44.0591	5.100	1.76200	40.10
27	−55.1131	31.586
28	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
29	∞	0.800
Image plane	∞
(Image pickup
surface)
Aspherical surface data
20th surface
K = 0.4266
A4 = −2.9932E−05, A6 = −1.1345E−07, A8 = −5.3515E−10,
A10 = 0.0000E+00
21th surface
K = 0
A4 = 1.5155E−05, A6 = −8.0327E−08, A8 = 7.3673E−11,
A10 = 0.0000E+00
23th surface
K = −1.0346
A4 = 1.2152E−05, A6 = −2.2375E−08, A8 = −1.6219E−11,
A10 = 0.0000E+00
24th surface
K = 0
A4 = −3.3317E−07, A6 = 0.0000E+00, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
A10 = 0.0000E+00
25th surface
K = −0.9997
A4 = −2.8738E−06, A6 = 0.0000E+00, A8 = 0.0000E+00,
A10 = 0.0000E+00
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
Focal length	40.80	75.77	147.00
Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
φ	22.00	22.36	24.62
Angle of field (2ω)	29.55°	15.99°	8.26°
IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
BF	35.02	35.02	35.02	in air
Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
D 5	1.159	17.060	27.773
D11	42.677	22.885	2.034
D21	1.743	2.890	2.747
D23	4.860	5.078	17.645
D25	2.608	5.134	2.848
Unit separation (a distance between an object and an image is
0.7 m)
D 0	546.700	546.700	546.700
D 5	1.159	17.060	27.773
D11	42.677	22.885	2.034
D21	2.306	4.775	9.253
D23	4.689	4.688	7.627
D25	2.216	3.639	6.360
Unit focal length
f1	87.231
f2	−26.381
f3	23.304
f4	−20.642
f5	−77.066
f6	32.863

EXAMPLE 6

Surface data
Surface no.	r	d	nd	νd
1	80.1028	2.300	1.90366	31.32
2	50.5589	0.770
3	50.2860	9.560	1.49700	81.54
4	−268.1012	0.150
5	50.9358	7.090	1.49700	81.54
6	435.6754	D6 (Variable)
7	135.7187	4.830	1.91082	35.25
8	−44.3532	1.600	1.69680	55.53
9	22.0220	2.510	1.92286	18.90
10	27.5103	4.810
11	−33.5645	1.500	1.91082	35.25
12	96.0071	D12 (Variable)
13	∞	1.250
(Stop)
14	25.2663	4.020	1.72000	41.98
15	63.0228	4.620
16	21.6993	5.140	1.49700	81.54
17	917.3736	0.210
18	150.9604	1.300	1.90366	31.32
19	21.4446	0.720
20	22.8790	3.300	1.49700	81.54
21	43.6271	0.770
22*	16.1524	4.840	1.58313	59.38
23*	−150.0281	D23 (Variable)
24	−89.8561	1.200	1.80610	40.92
25*	16.2721	D25 (Variable)
26	47.5311	2.070	1.92286	20.88
27	96.4449	D27(Variable)
28	198.8617	3.430	1.74320	49.34
29*	−54.0459	29.525
30	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
31	∞	0.800
Image	∞
plane
(Image
pickup
surface)
Aspherical surface data
	22th surface
	K = 0.6222
	A4 = −3.8497E−05, A6 = 1.9927E−09, A8 = −1.5528E−09, A10 =
	7.7231E−12
	23th surface
	K = 0
	A4 = 4.4637E−05, A6 = 1.4329E−07, A8 = −1.6623E−09, A10 =
	1.9521E−11
	25th surface
	K = −1.0646
	A4 = 4.2772E−06, A6 = −9.2262E−09, A8 = −1.0765E−10, A10 =
	0.0000E+00
	29th surface
	K = 4.7637
	A4 = 3.1439E−06, A6 = 7.8968E−09, A8 = 0.0000E+00, A10 =
	0.0000E+00
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
	Focal length	40.80	78.17	147.00
	Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
	φ	21.81	21.71	23.00
	Angle of field(2ω)	29.56°	15.47°	8.30°
	IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
	BF	32.96	32.96	32.96	in air
	Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
	D6	1.000	15.086	23.724
	D12	36.772	19.853	2.161
	D23	2.324	3.517	2.825
	D25	3.341	8.317	9.890
	D27	7.492	4.156	12.329
Unit separation (a distance between an object and an image is
0.7 m)
	D0	546.700	546.700	546.700
	D6	1.000	15.086	23.724
	D12	36.772	19.853	2.161
	D23	2.860	5.494	9.546
	D25	3.000	7.582	11.985
	D27	7.297	2.914	3.513
Unit focal length
	f1	73.156
	f2	−21.320
	f3	22.948
	f4	−17.005
	f5	99.531
	f6	57.513

EXAMPLE 7

Surface data
Surface no.	r	d	nd	νd
1	69.4893	6.860	1.48749	70.23
2	565.7563	0.150
3	49.6451	2.000	1.90366	31.32
4	35.4454	1.840
5	35.6044	10.250	1.43875	94.93
6	1710.8247	D6 (Variable)
7	120.4454	5.550	1.91082	35.25
8	−44.7712	1.600	1.73400	51.47
9	21.0744	3.070	1.92286	20.88
10	29.6069	4.910
11	−36.2415	1.500	1.83400	37.16
12	86.6417	D12 (Variable)
13	∞	1.250
(Stop)
14	27.7712	4.350	1.74400	44.78
15	223.0077	1.100
16	22.9349	3.890	1.43875	94.93
17	57.3117	1.400	1.90366	31.32
18	17.2397	4.250	1.49700	81.54
19	62.1173	0.150
20*	20.4824	4.280	1.59201	67.02
21*	−106.2208	D21 (Variable)
22*	−125.2693	1.200	1.72903	54.04
23*	16.2033	D23 (Variable)
24	87.2011	1.200	1.78472	25.68
25	41.6649	D25 (Variable)
26	77.9370	4.430	1.83400	37.16
27*	−42.7999	30.335
28	∞	4.000	1.51633	64.14
29	∞	0.800
Image	∞
plane
(Image
pickup
surface)
Aspherical surface data
20th surface
K = 1.2982
A4 = −3.2411E−05, A6 = −4.4282E−08, A8 = −8.3773E−10, A10 =
5.0168E−12
21th surface
K = 0
A4 = 2.4624E−05, A6 = 6.0342E−08, A8 = −7.2514E−10, A10 =
9.1331E−12
22th surface
K = 0
A4 = −3.2217E−05, A6 = 9.1917E−07, A8 = −1.2951E−08, A10 =
7.1111E−11
23th surface
K = −1.6218
A4 = −2.7136E−06, A6 = 1.0068E−06, A8 = −1.6727E−08, A10 =
1.0766E−10
27th surface
K = 1.0102
A4 = −7.9365E−07, A6 = −1.8224E−09, A8 = 0.0000E+00, A10 =
0.0000E+00
	WE	ST	TE
Zoom data
	Focal length	40.80	77.80	147.00
	Fno	2.88	2.88	2.88
	φ	20.39	20.72	22.40
	Angle of field(2ω)	29.80°	15.58°	8.27°
	IH	10.82	10.82	10.82
	BF	33.77	33.77	33.77	in air
	Lens total length	151.88	151.88	151.88	in air
Unit separation (infinite)
	D6	1.000	17.244	27.378
	D12	38.494	20.553	2.196
	D21	1.826	2.949	2.808
	D23	6.757	5.448	16.499
	D25	4.804	6.687	4.000
Unit separation (a distance between an object and an image is
0.7 m)
	D0	546.700	546.700	546.700
	D6	1.000	17.244	27.378
	D12	38.494	20.553	2.196
	D21	2.387	4.989	9.772
	D23	6.978	3.527	4.962
	D25	4.022	6.568	8.573
Unit focal length
	f1	89.618
	f2	−24.217
	f3	21.418
	f4	−19.610
	f5	−102.868
	f6	33.689

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D, FIG. 8E, FIG. 8F, FIG. 8G, FIG. 8H, FIG. 8I, FIG. 8J, FIG. 8K, and FIG. 8L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 8A to FIG. 8L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 1. FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, and FIG. 8D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 8E, FIG. 8F, FIG. 8G, and FIG. 8H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 8I, FIG. 8J, FIG. 8K, and FIG. 8L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C, FIG. 9D, FIG. 9E, FIG. 9F, FIG. 9G, FIG. 9H, FIG. 9I, FIG. 9J, FIG. 9K, and FIG. 9L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 9A to FIG. 9L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 1. FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C, and FIG. 9D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 9E, FIG. 9F, FIG. 9G, and FIG. 9H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 9I, FIG. 9J, FIG. 9K, and FIG. 9L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from the left side. A close distance is a distance when a distance between an object and an image is 0.7 m.

FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, FIG. 10D, FIG. 10E, FIG. 10F, FIG. 10G, FIG. 10H, FIG. 10I, FIG. 10J, FIG. 10K, and FIG. 10L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 10A to FIG. 10L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 2. FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, and FIG. 10D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 10E, FIG. 10F, FIG. 10G, and FIG. 10H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 10I, FIG. 10J, FIG. 10K, and FIG. 10L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, FIG. 11D, FIG. 11E, FIG. 11F, FIG. 11G, FIG. 11H, FIG. 11I, FIG. 11J, FIG. 11K, and FIG. 11L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 11A to FIG. 11L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 2. FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, and FIG. 11D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 11E, FIG. 11F, FIG. 11G, and FIG. 11H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 11I, FIG. 11J, FIG. 11K, and FIG. 11L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from the left side.

FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B, FIG. 12C, FIG. 12D, FIG. 12E, FIG. 12F, FIG. 12G, FIG. 12H, FIG. 12I, FIG. 12J, FIG. 12K, and FIG. 12L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 12A to FIG. 12L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 3. FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B, FIG. 12C, and FIG. 12D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 12E, FIG. 12F, FIG. 12G, and FIG. 12H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 12I, FIG. 12J, FIG. 12K, and FIG. 12L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B, FIG. 13C, FIG. 13D, FIG. 13E, FIG. 13F, FIG. 13G, FIG. 13H, FIG. 13I, FIG. 13J, FIG. 13K, and FIG. 13L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 13A to FIG. 13L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 3. FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B, FIG. 13C, and FIG. 13D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 13E, FIG. 13F, FIG. 13G, and FIG. 13H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 13I, FIG. 13J, FIG. 13K, and FIG. 13L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from the left side.

FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, FIG. 14D, FIG. 14E, FIG. 14F, FIG. 14G, FIG. 14H, FIG. 14I, FIG. 14J, FIG. 14K, and FIG. 14L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 14A to FIG. 14L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 4. FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, and FIG. 14D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 14E, FIG. 14F, FIG. 14G, and FIG. 14H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 14I, FIG. 14J, FIG. 14K, and FIG. 14L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B, FIG. 15C, FIG. 15D, FIG. 15E, FIG. 15F, FIG. 15G, FIG. 15H, FIG. 15I, FIG. 15J, FIG. 15K, and FIG. 15L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 15A to FIG. 15L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 4. FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B, FIG. 15C, and FIG. 15D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 15E, FIG. 15F, FIG. 15G, and FIG. 15H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 15I, FIG. 15J, FIG. 15K, and FIG. 15L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B, FIG. 16C, FIG. 16D, FIG. 16E, FIG. 16F, FIG. 16G, FIG. 16H, FIG. 16I, FIG. 16J, FIG. 16K, and FIG. 16L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 16A to FIG. 16L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 5. FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B, FIG. 16C, and FIG. 16D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 16E, FIG. 16F, FIG. 16G, and FIG. 16H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 16I, FIG. 16J, FIG. 16K, and FIG. 16L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B, FIG. 17C, FIG. 17D, FIG. 17E, FIG. 17F, FIG. 17G, FIG. 17H, FIG. 17I, FIG. 17J, FIG. 17K, and FIG. 17L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 17A to FIG. 17L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 5. FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B, FIG. 17C, and FIG. 17D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 17E, FIG. 17F, FIG. 17G, and FIG. 17H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 17I, FIG. 17J, FIG. 17K, and FIG. 17L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from the left side.

FIG. 18A, FIG. 18B, FIG. 18C, FIG. 18D, FIG. 18E, FIG. 18F, FIG. 18G, FIG. 18H, FIG. 18I, FIG. 18J, FIG. 18K, and FIG. 18L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 18A to FIG. 18L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 6. FIG. 18A, FIG. 18B, FIG. 18C, and FIG. 18D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 18E, FIG. 18F, FIG. 18G, and FIG. 18H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 18I, FIG. 18J, FIG. 18K, and FIG. 18L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B, FIG. 19C, FIG. 19D, FIG. 19E, FIG. 19F, FIG. 19G, FIG. 19H, FIG. 19I, FIG. 19J, FIG. 19K, and FIG. 19L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 19A to FIG. 19L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 6. FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B, FIG. 19C, and FIG. 19D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 19E, FIG. 19F, FIG. 19G, and FIG. 19H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 19I, FIG. 19J, FIG. 19K, and FIG. 19L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B, FIG. 20C, FIG. 20D, FIG. 20E, FIG. 20F, FIG. 20G, FIG. 20H, FIG. 20I, FIG. 20J, FIG. 20K, and FIG. 20L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 20A to FIG. 20L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at an infinite distance of the example 7. FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B, FIG. 20C, and FIG. 20D are aberration diagrams at a wide angle end, FIG. 20E, FIG. 20F, FIG. 20G, and FIG. 20H are aberration diagrams in an intermediate focal length state, FIG. 20I, FIG. 20J, FIG. 20K, and FIG. 20L are aberration diagrams at a telephoto end, and are a spherical aberration (SA), an astigmatism (AS), a distortion (DT), and a chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from a left side.

FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, FIG. 21C, FIG. 21D, FIG. 21E, FIG. 21F, FIG. 21G, FIG. 21H, FIG. 21I, FIG. 21J, FIG. 21K, and FIG. 21L (hereinafter, ‘FIG. 21A to FIG. 21L’) are aberration diagrams at the time of focusing at a close distance of the example 7. FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, FIG. 21C, and FIG. 21D are aberration diagrams at the wide angle end, FIG. 21E, FIG. 21F, FIG. 21G, and FIG. 21H are aberration diagrams in the intermediate focal length state, FIG. 21I, FIG. 21J, FIG. 21K, and FIG. 21L are aberration diagrams at the telephoto end, and are the spherical aberration (SA), the astigmatism (AS), the distortion (DT), and the chromatic aberration of magnification (CC) respectively, in order from the left side.

The spherical aberration SA is indicated for each of wavelengths 587.6 nm (d-line: solid line), 435.8 nm (g-line: long-dotted line), and 656.3 nm (C-line: short-dotted line). Moreover, the chromatic aberration of magnification CC is indicated for each of wavelengths 435.8 nm (g-line: long-dotted line) and 656.3 nm (C-line: short-dotted line) when the d-line is let to be a base. Furthermore, the astigmatism AS indicated by a solid line is for a sagittal image plane and the astigmatism AS indicated by a broken line is for a meridional image plane. FNO denotes an F-number. FIY denotes an image height.

Values for each component and values for each of conditional expressions (1) to (9) for the examples from the example 1 to the example 7 are shown below.

Conditional
expressions	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3	Example 4
(I)	0.688	0.686	0.692	0.693
(II)	1.983	2.007	1.937	1.729
(III)	1.023	1.063	1.041	1.122
(IV)	2.195	2.240	2.157	2.072
(A)	0.215	0.247	0.266	0.123
(B)	−0.469	−0.465	−0.468	−0.428
(C)	2.188	1.882	1.759	3.471
(1)	0.383	0.433	0.414	0.510
(2)	3.828	3.057	2.547	2.597
(3)	94.93	94.93	94.93	94.93
(4)	1.685	2.065	2.318	1.913
(5)	1.285	1.189	1.267	1.493
(6)	2.740	0.708	0.712	0.399
(6-1)	2.740	0.708	0.712	0.399
(6-2)
(7)	0.900	0.478	0.515	1.019
(8)	3.603	3.603	3.603	3.603
(9)	2.88	2.88	2.88	2.88
	Conditional
	expressions	Example 5	Example 6	Example 7
	(I)	0.528	0.753	0.774
	(II)	1.614	1.953	1.788
	(III)	1.042	1.231	1.148
	(IV)	2.012	2.369	2.070
	(A)	0.268	−0.171	0.191
	(B)	−0.506	−0.417	−0.481
	(C)	1.889	2.439	2.521
	(1)	0.602	0.518	0.463
	(2)	2.840	2.972	2.779
	(3)	81.54	81.54	94.93
	(4)	1.909	2.444	1.972
	(5)	1.368	1.442	1.297
	(6)	0.336	−0.340	0.353
	(6-1)	0.336		0.353
	(6-2)		−0.340
	(7)	0.540	1.312	0.657
	(8)	3.603	3.603	3.603
	(9)	2.88	2.88	2.88

Each of the examples realizes a telephoto zoom lens with a large aperture and an improved performance, which can be used for an application as an interchangeable lens, and which is favorable also for video photography.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of a single-lens mirrorless camera as an image pickup apparatus in which a small-size CCD (charge coupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is used as an image pickup element, and which uses the zoom lens according to the embodiment. In FIG. 22, reference numeral 1 denotes the single-lens mirrorless camera, 2 denotes an image pickup lens system disposed inside a lens barrel, 3 denotes a mount portion of the lens barrel which makes the image pickup lens system 2 detachable from the single-lens mirrorless camera 1, in which, a screw-type mount or a bayonate-type mount is used. In this example, the bayonate-type mount is used. Moreover, reference numeral 4 denotes an image pickup element surface, and 5 denotes a back monitor.

As the image pickup lens system 2 of the single-lens mirrorless camera 1 having such an arrangement, the zoom lens according to the present embodiment described in examples from the example 1 and the example 7 is to be used.

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 show conceptual diagrams of a structure of the image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment in which, the zoom lens is incorporated in a photographic optical system 41. FIG. 23 is a front perspective view showing an appearance of a digital camera 40 as the image pickup apparatus, and FIG. 24 is a rear perspective view showing an appearance of the digital camera 40 as the image pickup apparatus.

The digital camera 40 of the embodiment includes the photographic optical system 41 positioned in a photographic optical path 42, a shutter button 45, and a liquid-crystal display monitor 47. As the shutter button 45 disposed on an upper portion of the digital camera 40 is pressed, an image is captured through the photographic optical system 41 such as the lens system of the example 1, in conjunction with the pressing of the shutter button 45. An object image which is formed by the photographic optical system 41 is formed on an image pickup element (an opto-electric conversion surface) which is provided near an image forming surface. The object image received by the image pickup element is displayed on the liquid-crystal display monitor 47 provided on a rear surface of the digital camera 40, as an electronic image, by a processing unit. Moreover, it is possible to record the captured electronic image in a recording unit.

FIG. 25, FIG. 26, and FIG. 27 show conceptual diagrams of a structure of another image pickup apparatus in which, the zoom lens is incorporated in the photographic optical system 41. FIG. 25 is a front perspective view showing an appearance of a digital camera 40, FIG. 26 is a rear view showing an appearance of the digital camera 40, and FIG. 27 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view showing an arrangement inside the digital camera 40.

The digital camera 40 in this case, includes a photographic optical system 41 positioned in the photographic optical path 42, a finder optical system 43 positioned in a finder optical path 44, a shutter button 45, a pop-up stroboscope 46, and a liquid-crystal display monitor 47. As the shutter button 45 disposed on an upper portion of the digital camera 40 is pressed, an image is captured through the photographic optical system 41 such as the lens of the example 1, in conjunction with the pressing of the shutter button 45. An object image which is formed by the photographic optical system 41 is formed on an image pickup surface (an opto-electric conversion surface) of a CCD 49 as an image pickup element provided near an image forming surface. The object image received by the CCD 49 is displayed as an electronic image on the liquid-crystal display monitor 47 provided on a rear surface of the digital camera 40, or on a finder image display element 54, via a processing unit 51. Moreover, a recording unit 52 is connected to the processing unit 51, and it is possible to record the captured electronic image.

The recording unit 52 may be provided separately from the processing unit 51, or an arrangement may be made to carry out recording and writing electronically by a flexible disc, a memory card, and an MO (magnetic optical disc).

Furthermore, a finder eye piece 59 is disposed in the finder optical path 44. An object image displayed on the finder image display element 54 is enlarged and adjusted to be easily visible by a viewer by the finder eye piece 59, and is guided to viewer's eyeball E. A cover member 50 is disposed on an emergence side of the finder eye piece 59.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit of main components of the digital camera 40 of the present embodiment. In the following description, the above-mentioned processing unit 51 includes sections such as a CDS/ADC (correlated double sampling/analog-to-digital converter) section 24, a temporary storage memory 17, and an image processing section 18, and the storage unit 52 includes sections such as a storage-medium section 19.

As shown in FIG. 28, the digital camera 40 includes an operating section 12, a control section 13 which is connected to the operating section 12, an image pickup drive circuit 16 and the temporary storage memory 17 which are connected to a control signal output port of the control section 13 via buses 14 and 15, the image processing section 18, the storage medium section 19, a display section 20, and a setting-information storage memory section 21.

It is possible to input and output data mutually to and from the temporary storage memory 17, the image processing section 18, the storage medium section 19, the display section 20, and the setting-information storage memory section 21, via a bus 22. Moreover, the CCD 49 and the CDS/ADC section 24 are connected to the image pickup drive circuit 16.

The operating section 12 includes various input buttons and switches, and notifies event information that is input from an outside (by a user of the camera) via the input buttons and switches, to the control section 13. The control section 13 is a central processing unit, and has a built-in computer program memory which is not shown in the diagram. The control section 13 controls the overall digital camera 40 according to computer programs stored in the computer program memory.

The CCD 49 is an image pickup element which is controlled and driven by the image pickup drive circuit 16. The CCD 49 converts an amount of light per pixel of an object image formed through the photographic optical system 41 to an electric signal, and outputs to the CDS/ADC section 24.

The CDS/ADC section 24 is a circuit which amplifies the electric signal input from the CCD 49, as well as carries out analog-to-digital conversion thereof. The CDS/ADC section 24 outputs image raw data (bayer data, hereinafter called as RAW data) which is subjected to amplification and analog-to-digital conversion, to the temporary storage memory 17.

The temporary storage memory 17 is a buffer including a memory such as an SDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory), and is a memory unit which stores temporarily the RAW data output from the CDS/ADC section 24. The image processing section 18 is a circuit which reads the RAW data stored in the temporary storage memory 17 or the RAW data stored in the storage-medium section 19, and carries out electrically various image processing based on image-quality parameters specified in the control section 13.

The storage-medium section 19 has a storage medium in the form of a card or a stick including a memory such as a flash memory, installed detachably. The storage-medium section 19 stores and holds the RAW data transferred from the temporary storage memory 17 and image data that has been subjected to image processing in the image processing section 18 in these flash memories.

The display section 20 includes a liquid-crystal display monitor 47, and displays the RAW data that is captured, and image data and operation menu. The setting-information storage memory section 21 includes a ROM (read only memory) section in which, various image-quality parameters are stored in advance, and a RAM (random access memory) section which stores the image-quality parameters read from the ROM section by an input operation on the operating section 12.

By using the zoom lens according to the example as the photographic optical system 41, it is possible to let the digital camera 40 configured in such manner to be an image pickup apparatus which is suitable for video photography while being bright and small-sized with an improved performance.

Various embodiments of the present invention have been described heretofore. However, the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described, and embodiments which are arranged by combining appropriately the arrangements in the embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention. A lens which is not shown in the diagrams of the aforementioned examples, and which does not have a practical refractive power may be disposed in any lens unit or outside any lens unit.

According to the examples, it is possible to provide a zoom lens which includes six lens units, and which is advantageous for an improved performance.

Claims

1. A zoom lens comprising in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having a positive refractive power;

a second lens unit having a negative refractive power;

a third lens unit having a positive refractive power;

a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power;

a fifth lens unit which includes a lens; and

a sixth lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein:

a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit widens more at a telephoto end than at a wide angle end,

a distance between the first lens unit and the third lens unit narrows more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end,

a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit narrows more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end,

a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end,

a distance between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and

a distance between the fifth lens unit and the sixth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

2. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein:

a position of the first lens unit is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and

the second lens unit, the third lend unit, the fourth lens unit, and the fifth lens unit move at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

3. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein a position of the first lens unit is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

4. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the third lens unit is positioned at the object side at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end.

5. The zoom lens according to claim 4, wherein the third lens unit satisfies the following conditional expression (1)

0.2<ΔG3/f 3<1   (1)

where,

Δ G3 denotes an amount of displacement of the third lens unit, at a position at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end, where the displacement to an object side is plus, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

6. The zoom lens according to claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture stop which is disposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and which moves toward the object side at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end.

7. The zoom lens according to claim 6, wherein the aperture stop is disposed between the second lens unit and the third lens unit.

8. The zoom lens according to claim 6, wherein an aperture size of the aperture stop when the F-number is the minimum is larger, at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

9. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

10. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of a focusing operation.

11. The zoom lens according to claim 10, wherein

the fifth lens unit has a negative refractive power, and

a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the wide angle end, and a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the telephoto end differ for the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit.

12. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fifth lens unit has a negative refractive power.

13. The zoom lens according to claim 12, wherein in fifth lens unit comprises one negative lens, and the following conditional expression (6-1) is satisfied

0 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <4   (6-1)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

14. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fifth lens unit has a positive refractive power.

15. The zoom lens according to claim 14, wherein the fifth lens unit comprises one positive lens, and the following conditional expression (6-2) is satisfied

−1 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <0   (6-2)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

16. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein a position of the sixth lens unit is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

17. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein

the second lens unit includes in order from the object side to the image side, cemented triplet lens component of a positive lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and wherein, the lens component is a lens block having only two refracting surfaces namely, an object-side surface and an image-side surface, which are in contact with air in an optical path.

18. The zoom lens according to the claim 17, wherein the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component satisfies the following conditional expression (2)

1<(r21−r22)/(r21+r22) <5   (2)

where,

r21 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component, and

r22 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component.

19. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the third lens unit includes a negative lens and a plurality of positive lenses, and the following conditional expressions (3) and (4) are satisfied

75<vd3p <100   (3)

1.4<f31p /f3/<3.7  (4)

where,

vd3p denotes the maximum value of Abbe's number with reference to a d-line for all the positive lenses in the third lens unit,

f31p denotes a focal length of the positive lens nearest to the object side in the third lens unit, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

20. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fourth lens unit comprises one negative lens, and satisfies the following conditional expression (5)

0.6<(r41−r42)/(r41+r42) <2   (5)

where,

r41 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit, and

r42 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit.

21. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fifth lens unit comprises one lens, and satisfies the following conditional expression (6)

−1 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <4   (6)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

22. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state, at the telephoto end, the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move satisfying the following conditional expression (7)

0.2 <|ΔG5(T)/ΔG4(T)|<2   (7)

where,

ΔG4(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end, and

ΔG5(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fifth lens unit at the telephoto end.

23. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the following conditional expressions (8) and (9) are satisfied

3.2 <ft/fw<6   (8)

1.4 <FNO(T) <3.2   (9)

where,

ft denotes a focal length at the telephoto end of the zoom lens,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens, and

FNO(T) denotes an F-number at the telephoto end for the zoom lens.

24. The zoom lens according to claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture stop which is disposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and which determines an F-number, wherein

the following conditional expressions (I) and (II) are satisfied

0.2 <D36W/φAW <1.5   (I)

1.0 <DS6W/φAW <2.8   (II)

where,

D36W denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up to an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end,

DS6W denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end, and

φAW denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the wide angle end.

25. The zoom lens according to claim 24, wherein the following conditional expressions (III) and (IV) are satisfied

0.6 <D36T /(φAT <2.3   (III)

1.4 <DS6T /(φAT <3.5   (IV)

where,

D36T denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end,

DS6T denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end, and

φAT denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the telephoto end.

26. The zoom lens according to claim 24, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of a focusing operation.

27. The zoom lens according to claim 24, wherein the aperture stop moves toward the object side more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

28. The zoom lens according to claim 1, the following conditional expression (A) is satisfied

−0.8<f4 /f5 <1.2   (A)

where,

f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens unit, and

f5 denotes a focal length of the fifth lens unit.

29. The zoom lens according to claim 28, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit satisfy the following conditional expressions (B) and (C)

−0.7<f4 /fw <−0.3  (B)

1.0<|f5|/fw <5.0   (C)

where,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens.

30. A zoom lens comprising in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having a positive refractive power;

a second lens unit having a negative refractive power;

a third lens unit having a positive refractive power;

a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power;

a fifth lens unit which includes a lens; and

a sixth lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein:

a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit widens more at a telephoto end than at a wide angle end,

a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit narrows more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end,

a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end,

a distance between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end,

a distance between the fifth lens unit and the sixth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and

a position of the first lens unit is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

31. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the third lens unit is positioned at the object side at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end.

32. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the third lens unit satisfies the following conditional expression (1)

0.2<ΔG3 /f3<1 (1)

where,

ΔG3 denotes an amount of displacement of the third lens unit, at a position at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end, where the displacement to an object side is plus, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

33. The zoom lens according to claim 30, further comprising:

an aperture stop which is disposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and which moves toward the object side at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end.

34. The zoom lens according to claim 33, wherein the aperture stop is disposed between the second lens unit and the third lens unit.

35. The zoom lens according to claim 33, wherein an aperture size of the aperture stop when the F-number is the minimum is larger, at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

36. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

37. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of a focusing operation.

38. The zoom lens according to claim 37, wherein;

the fifth lens unit has a negative refractive power, and

a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the wide angle end, and a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the telephoto end differ for the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit.

39. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the fifth lens unit has a negative refractive power.

40. The zoom lens according to claim 39, wherein in fifth lens unit comprises one negative lens, and the following conditional expression (6-1) is satisfied

0 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <4   (6-1)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

41. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the fifth lens unit has a positive refractive power.

42. The zoom lens according to claim 41, wherein the fifth lens unit comprises one positive lens, and the following conditional expression (6-2) is satisfied

−1 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <0  (6-2)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

43. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein a position of the sixth lens unit is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

44. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein

the second lens unit includes in order from the object side to the image side, cemented triplet lens component of a positive lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens; and wherein, the lens component is a lens block having only two refracting surfaces namely, an object-side surface and an image-side surface, which are in contact with air in an optical path.

45. The zoom lens according to the claim 44, wherein the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component satisfies the following conditional expression (2)

1 <(r21−r22)/(r21 +r22) <5   (2)

where,

r21 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet, and

r22 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component.

46. The zoom lens according to claim 32, wherein the third lens unit includes a negative lens and a plurality of positive lenses, and the following conditional expressions (3) and (4) are satisfied

75<vd3p <100   (3)

1.4 <f31p /f3<3.7  (4)

where,

vd3p denotes the maximum value of Abbe's number with reference to a d-line for all the positive lenses in the third lens unit,

f31p denotes a focal length of the positive lens nearest to the object side in the third lens unit, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

47. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the fourth lens unit comprises one negative lens, and satisfies the following conditional expression (5)

0.6 <(r41−r42)/(r41+r42) <2   (5)

where,

r41 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit, and

r42 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit.

48. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the fifth lens unit comprises one lens, and satisfies the following conditional expression (6)

−1 <(r51−r52) / (r51+r52) <4(6)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

49. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state, at the telephoto end, the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move satisfying the following conditional expression (7)

0.2 <|ΔG5(T)/ΔG4(T)|<2   (7)

where,

ΔG4(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end, and

ΔG5(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fifth lens unit at the telephoto end.

50. The zoom lens according to claim 30, wherein the following conditional expressions (8) and (9) are satisfied

3.2 <ft/fw <6   (8)

1.4 <FNO(T)<3.2   (9)

where,

ft denotes a focal length at the telephoto end of the zoom lens,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens, and

FNO(T) denotes an F-number at the telephoto end for the zoom lens.

51. The zoom lens according to claim 30, further comprising:

an aperture stop which is disposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and which determines an F-number, wherein

the following conditional expressions (I) and (II) are satisfied

0.2<D36W/φAW <1.5  (I)

1.0<DS6W/φAW <2.8  (II)

where,

D36W denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up to an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end,

DS6W denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end, and

φAW denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the wide angle end.

52. The zoom lens according to claim 51, wherein the following conditional expressions (III) and (IV) are satisfied

0.6 <D36T/φAT <2.3   (III)

1.4 <DS6T/φAT <3.5   (IV)

where,

D36T denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end,

DS6T denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end, and

φAT denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the telephoto end.

53. The zoom lens according to claim 51, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of a focusing operation.

54. The zoom lens according to claim 51, wherein the aperture stop moves toward the object side more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

55. The zoom lens according to claim 30, the following conditional expression (A) is satisfied

−0.8<f4 /f5 <1.2   (A)

where,

f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens unit, and

f5 denotes a focal length of the fifth lens unit.

56. The zoom lens according to claim 55, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit satisfy the following conditional expressions (B) and (C)

−0.7<f4 /fw <−0.3   (B)

1.0 <|f5 |/fw <5.0   (C)

where,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens.

57. A zoom lens comprising in order from an object side to an image side:

a first lens unit having a positive refractive power;

a second lens unit having a negative refractive power;

a third lens unit having a positive refractive power;

a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power;

a fifth lens unit which includes a lens;

a sixth lens unit having a positive refractive power; and

an aperture stop which is disposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and which moves toward the object side at the telephoto end with respect to the wide angle end, wherein:

a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit widens more at a telephoto end than at a wide angle end,

a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit narrows more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end,

a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end,

a distance between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and

a distance between the fifth lens unit and the sixth lens unit changes at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

58. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the aperture stop is disposed between the second lens unit and the third lens unit.

59. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein an aperture size of the aperture stop when the F-number is the minimum is larger, at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

60. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

61. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of a focusing operation.

62. The zoom lens according to claim 61, wherein;

the fifth lens unit has a negative refractive power, and

a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the wide angle end, and a direction of movement at the time of focusing at a close distance when at the telephoto end differ for the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit.

63. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the fifth lens unit has a negative refractive power.

64. The zoom lens according to claim 63, wherein in fifth lens unit comprises one negative lens, and the following conditional expression (6-1) is satisfied

0 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <4   (6-1)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

65. The zoom lens according to claim 64, wherein the fifth lens unit comprises one positive lens, and the following conditional expression (6-2) is satisfied

−1<(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <0  (6-2)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

66. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the fifth lens unit has a positive refractive power.

67. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein a position of the sixth lens unit is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.

68. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein

the second lens unit includes in order from the object side to the image side, cemented triplet lens component of a positive lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens;

and wherein, the lens component is a lens block having only two refracting surfaces namely, an object-side surface and an image-side surface, which are in contact with air in an optical path.

69. The zoom lens according to the claim 68, wherein the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component satisfies the following conditional expression (2)

1 <(r21 −r22)/(r21 +r22) <5   (2)

where,

r21 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet, and

r22 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the cemented triplet lens component.

70. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the third lens unit includes a negative lens and a plurality of positive lenses, and the following conditional expressions (3) and (4) are satisfied

75 <vd3p <100   (3)

1.4<f31p /f3<3.7  (4)

where,

vd3p denotes the maximum value of Abbe's number with reference to a d-line for all the positive lenses in the third lens unit,

f31p denotes a focal length of the positive lens nearest to the object side in the third lens unit, and

f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens unit.

71. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the fourth lens unit comprises one negative lens, and satisfies the following conditional expression (5)

0.6 <(r41−r42)/(r41+r42) <2   (5)

where,

r41 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit, and

r42 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the negative lens in the fourth lens unit.

72. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the fifth lens unit comprises one lens, and satisfies the following conditional expression (6)

-1 <(r51−r52)/(r51+r52) <4 (6)

where,

r51 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit, and

r52 denotes a paraxial radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the lens in the fifth lens unit.

73. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state, at the telephoto end, the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move satisfying the following conditional expression (7)

0.2 <|ΔG5(T)/ΔG4(T)|<2   (7)

where,

ΔG4(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end, and

ΔG5(T) denotes an amount of movement at the time of focusing from an infinite focusing state to a close focusing state of the fifth lens unit at the telephoto end.

74. The zoom lens according to claim 57, wherein the following conditional expressions (8) and (9) are satisfied

3.2 <ft/fw <6   (8)

1.4 <FNO(T) <3.2   (9)

where,

ft denotes a focal length at the telephoto end of the zoom lens,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens, and

FNO(T) denotes an F-number at the telephoto end for the zoom lens.

75. The zoom lens according to claim 57, further comprising:

an aperture stop which is disposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and which determines an F-number, wherein

the following conditional expressions (I) and (II) are satisfied

0.2 <D36W /φAW <1.5  (I)

1.0 <DS6W /φAW <2.8  (II)

where,

D36W denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up to an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end,

DS6W denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the wide angle end, and

φAW denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the wide angle end.

76. The zoom lens according to claim 75, wherein the following conditional expressions (III) and (IV) are satisfied

0.6<D36T/φAT<2.3  (III)

1.4 <DS6T/φAT<3.5  (IV)

where,

D36T denotes a distance along an optical axis from an image-side surface of the third lens unit up an object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end,

DS6T denotes a distance along the optical axis from the aperture stop up to the object-side surface of the sixth lens unit, at the telephoto end, and

φAT denotes the maximum diameter of an aperture when the F-number of the aperture stop is the minimum, at the telephoto end.

77. The zoom lens according to claim 75, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit move at the time of a focusing operation.

78. The zoom lens according to claim 75, wherein the aperture stop moves toward the object side more at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

79. The zoom lens according to claim 57, the following conditional expression (A) is satisfied

−0.8 <f4 /f5 <1.2   (A)

where,

f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens unit, and

f5 denotes a focal length of the fifth lens unit.

80. The zoom lens according to claim 79, wherein the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit satisfy the following conditional expressions (B) and (C)

−0.7 <f4 /fw <−0.3   (B)

1.0 <|f5|/fw <5.0   (C)

where,

fw denotes a focal length at the wide angle end of the zoom lens.